Green Knights Clinch MWC North Division Title

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, October 27, 2018 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College clinched the Midwest Conference North Division title with a 17-15 win over Macalester College at Schneider Stadium.

The victory gives the Green Knights (7-1, 4-0 MWC North) a berth in the MWC Championship Game against South Division champion Monmouth College. The game will be played at 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Schneider Stadium in De Pere.

The Green Knights scored on all three of their red zone possessions, while the Scots were turned away empty on one of theirs, proving the difference.

St. Norbert cashed in its first chance late in the first quarter, when Matt Galanopoulos scampered in from 12 yards out with 9 seconds remaining in the period for a 7-0 lead.

Macalester opened the second quarter on a 15-play drive that eventually netted just 37 yards but melted 9 minutes 2 seconds off the clock. The Green Knights ran just eight plays in the second quarter and carried their 7-0 lead into halftime.

Hunter Prokash intercepted Macalester's Grady Munro on the second play of the third quarter, Prokash's second of the game, setting St. Norbert up on the Macalester 26-yard line. Two plays later Galanopoulos scored on a 15-yard run for a 14-0 lead with 14:15 left in the third quarter.

Macalester then mounted another long offensive drive, kept alive by a 22-yard run on a fake punt. The Scots had scored on a touchdown pass from the St. Norbert 17-yard line, but the play was nullified by a penalty. Macalester converted a third-and-15 on the series to set up a first-and-goal from the St. Norbert 8, eventually reaching fourth down at the Green Knights' 1. But a broken play on fourth down resulted in a seven-yard loss, denying the Scots points.

Macalester eventually scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Munro to Alec Beatty on fourth-and-8 with 11:04 remaining in the game. Both teams traded punts before a Matt Gurgone interception put St. Norbert at the Macalester 38 with 7:43 remaining. Six plays later, Spenser Thompson-Meyers converted a 29-yard field goal to put St. Norbert ahead 17-7 with 4:52 to go.

The Scots answered, needing just three plays to score a touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Munro to Beatty with 3:54 left, and the duo converted a two-point pass to cut the deficit to 17-15. A pair of major penalties on the touchdown had Macalester kicking off from the St. Norbert 35-yard line. The Scots opted to onside kick, but St. Norbert recovered at its own 25. The Green Knights converted a pair of first downs to run out the clock.

Macalester outgained St. Norbert 300-229 in total offense. Nate Ihlenfeldt rushed 17 times for 82 yards, while Galanopoulos had 28 yards on four carries with four touchdowns. Rhodes completed 9 of 12 passes for 101 yards. Drew Chevarria caught three passes for 59 yards.

Munro completed 24 of 41 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Beatty caught 10 passes for 125 yards and two scores. Macalester rushed for 11 yards and was sacked five times.

Matt Gurgone had a team-high nine tackles with a sack and interception. Joe Peterson had eight tackles, while Matt Barrett finished with six stops. Prokash had four tackles with his two interceptions and was credited with three passes defended.